Card feeding mechanism



CARD FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 I a INVENTOR QFTDALX Y 3 m ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 e. F. DALY CARD FEEDING MECHANISM 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1945 INVENTOR 4,5040 Y ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 G. F- DALY cm) FEEDING WISH 1 shoo s-Sheet 3 |NVEN OR 65 ATT June 6, G F. DALY CARD FEEDING MECHANISM 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 19, 1945 INVENTOR C D/2L) ATTORNEY June 6, 1959 e. F. DALY 2,510,559

CARD FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 g, gm J5 um l g: i fi "w QB SQ Qk v t q a E a Q a Q 4 INVENTOR IN QED/4L y mid ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 s. F. DALY 2,510,559

CARD FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 6, 1950 G. F. DALY cm moms uncumxsu 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed NOV. 19, 1945 INVENTOR GFDALY ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 G. F. DALY 2,510,559

CARD FEEDING MECHANISM l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 19,- 4945 N Q I Q INVENTOR QFDALY m 4041/ ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 G. F. DALY cm) FEEDING m-zcmnxsu l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov.

| MN QM in INVENTOR GFTQALY ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 F. DALY CARD FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 19, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 ATTORNEY Patented June 6, 1950 CARD FEEDING MECHANISM George F. Daly, Endicott, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 19, 1945, Serial No. 629,576

19 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet feeding mechanisms and principally to the type for successively feeding individual records, such as cards which are perforated to control functional operations of sorting, accounting machines or the like.

The principal object of the invention is to construct a card feeding mechanismand incorporate specific improvements therein which will cause it to operate efficiently, and provide the insurance that a card will be transported to the perforation analyzing mechanism in proper analyzing position and with such increased speed that the work to be performed by the machine can be accomplished in less time than heretofore. At the present time improvements are being incorporated in certain functional mechanisms in card controlled machines so that the functions thereof are carried out with increased speed and the purpose of this invention is to provide a card feed for such machines which will enable cards to pass through the machine not only with consistent speed but efiiciently as well. Throughout the design parts have been constructed and correlated with the object that the characteristic of efficiency and requirement of high speed in operation will be attained by a simple and good construction.

A relatively important object of the invention is the provision of a presensing station between the card magazine and the card analyzing station which determines whether a card has been fed from a supply magazine and the provision of an associated control which inhibits further card feed operations of the machine until a card has issued from the supply magazine and the presensing station has sensed such fact, or the defective card has been replaced.

The importance of the preceding object is indicated by the fact that it has been found in practice'that the majority of card jams and failure to feed to analyzing position occur at the throat block where the card is advanced by the pickers to the first pair of card feed rollers. Herein the presensing station checks the feed at this point to determine the presence or failure to feed a card from the supply magazine and hence with the majority of card jams or failures corrected the incorporation of this described improvement enables card feed with greater effl'ciency than heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide separately controlled means for the card picker operating mechanism and the gripper controlled card feed mechanism so that it is possible to inhibit further card feed in the next cycle from the supply magazine unless a card has issued from the supply magazine and tosuppress card feed operations by the gripper mechanisms in the next cycle whenever the presensing station senses the fact that a card has not issued from the supply magazine.

Heretofore, the failure of a card to feed from the supply magazine at the throat did not suppress card feed of the preceding cards and they passed through the machine to function in the same manner as if the last card had been advanced through the machine. Obviously, when the card .feed failure occurred before operations in connection with a card group were completed, the recorded report for a group of cards would be incomplete since in card controlled machines of the type in which the present invention is incorporated the passage of the last card through the machine causes a total to be recorded. Obviously, such total would be incomplete for the group of cards and hence the report would be incorrectly split. The provision of the presensing station and associated control herein for said separate card feeds is a novel and important fea ture in connection with card feed for such machines and prevents issuance of incomplete reports.

In the present machine, the control rendered effective by the presensing station suppresses the operation of the card picker mechanism and also the card gripper mechanisms; thereby completely suppressing these independent card feed operations. Hence, cards which precede the defective cards remain in analyzing position and recording functions under their control are inhibited so that a total cannot be taken and the aforesaid splitting of the groups is eliminated. In the present arrangement it is possible to facilitate manual replacement of the defective card and for advancing this card to its correct analyzing position in the card feed unit before resuming operation of the machine. When resumption of the machine is initiated cards will then be fed in the normal manner and the report will be made out complete, just as if there was no-failure of card feed.

A further object of the invention is the provision .of means to positively grip cards at their marginal side edges by grippers carried by reciprocating gripper frames and to move the frames witha'n accelerated card transport stroke and a relatively slower returnstroke.

Another feature of the invention isthe provision of releasable grippers carried by the above described gripper frames which, when opened prior to said slow return stroke, will leave the cards at rest in analyzing position. With cards analyzed at rest, in contrast to analyzing them in motion, additional functions can be carried out by the machine in which the improved card feed unit is incorporated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved card aligners which align the cards at all four edges. One set of aligners shifts the card to proper analyzing position by correcting any deviation of the card from its proper direction or line of feed. The other set corrects over and under feed of the card by the grippers, while both sets compensate for any deviation from the normal size of card due to expansion or contraction caused by humid weather conditions.

Another object of the invention is to devise the card feed unit in a sectional manner which includes a hinged upper part which is rocked to secure access to parts which otherwise would be inaccessible for service and inspection requirements, and also to jammed cards which fail to issue from the supply magazine. A feature of the invention in this connection is to enable the upper section to be rocked without necessitating the disconnection of operating links or the like between the main drive at the lower section and parts to be operated which are carried by the upper section.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a left outside elevational view of the card feeding unit and is taken on the line l-l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 1a is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the hinged upper section and the hinged storage magazine rocked to show the manner of opening the machine for securing access to parts in the lower section.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but is an outside elevational view of the right side of the unit and is taken on the line 22 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a plan view with the upper hinged section of the unit removed and fragmentary in portions to show more clearly the parts which would be concealed.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation showing the gripper frame assembly and associated cam operated linkage for closing and reopening the card flippers.

Pig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a portion of a cam operated linkage.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation showing the correlation of the card aligners and card stops and associated cam operated linkage.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on.

the line iii-l0 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 10 but shows the parts in a further operated position.

Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a pair of concurrently operated card stops and aligners.

Fig. 12a is a detail right hand view of the main drive and an associated clutch.

Fig. 13 is a view taken on the line Ii-ll of Fi 14.

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view showing the preferred arrangement for aligning the cards at their vertical marginal edges.

Fig. 15 is a combined electrical and mechanical timing diagram of the machine.

Fig. 16 is an electrical wiring diagram.

Framework In general, the card feeding unit consists of a lower or bottom section mounted upon a base oi the card controlled machine and an upper hinged section which also carries certain parts of the card feeding unit.

The framework for the bottom or lower section of the unit consists of a pair of spaced side frames l0 and II (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which carry. among other parts, the bearings in which operating shafts to be subsequently described are Journalled. Rigidity of the lower section of the unit is provided by cross members I! and i3 (Fig. 3). The transverse operating shafts to be subsequently described also comprise cross members which aid in securing a rigid framework.

The framework of the upper section consists of side frames l4 and I5 (Figs. 2 and 3) and such side frames are suitably spaced by cross members which include a plate l6 (see Fig. 3). The upper framework is hinged to the lower section or portion of the unit on a pair of studs l'l so that said upper section may be rocked about the studs II to obtain access to parts in the lower section of the unit and also the upper section, and such arrangement facilitates examination of the operating parts of the unit for the purpose of servicing, adjustment, etc. and removal of a defective card. Preferably this pivotal mounting is provided by having cam plates l8 and I9 (Figs. 1 and 2) attached by rivets 20 to the side frames i5 and M, respectively, said cam plates thus providing extensions of the side frames l4 and IE to receive the hinge studs H.

The card storage magazine 23 comprises a base plate 2i and two side plates 22, each of which is pivoted on a stacker drum shaft 41 and the storage magazine is thus pivoted about the lower section. A catch 23a (Fig. 3) latches the card storage magazine in normal position. The storage magazine receives cards fed by the stacker mechanism after such cards have passed through the machine to control functions in the card controlled machine. To obtain access for the pur poses stated, the card storage magazine 23 is first rocked counterclockwise about shaft 41 to the Fig. in position, now removing it from the upper section which is now free to be rocked clockwise about studs I! to the Fig. 1a position. The reverse procedure is followed when the unit is reclosed and the normal downward position of the upper section is insured by having a foot cam portion 22b (Fig. 1a) of each side plate 22 engage a related roller 220 which is carried by the rear end of the related side plate I and I5. The pressure and cam action on rollers 22c force the upper section to normal downward position by the act of restoring the storage magazine to the Fig. 1 position.

Suitable side plates 24 (Figs. 1 and 2) together with the cross plate l6 provide a card supply magazine 25 from which magazine cards are fed singly for their presentation to analyzing stations to be subsequently described. Plate i6 is carried by the upper section and is the rear wall of the magazine. The side plates 24 are split as shown in Fig. 3 so that the upper part can be carried by the side plates l4 and I5 and the complementary portions can be carried by the lower section of the unit. This enables the upper portion of the card supply magazine to rock about studs II when the upper section is rocked.

All of the gear drives and rotating shafts of the card feed unit are carried by the lower portion of the unit. The power for driving the 4' rd feeding unit is derived from a main drive shaft 21 (Fig. 12a) which is a continuously operating drive shaft of the machine. To shaft 21 there is secured a gear 28 meshing with a gear 29 having a 2-1 gear ratio so that for one revolution of shaft 21, shaft 30, to which gear 29 is secured, is rotated clockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 12a and counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 3 one-half revolution per machine cycle.

Shaft 30 has secured to it a gear 3| (Figs. 2 and 4) which drives a train of intermeshing gears 32, 33 and 34 which are mounted outside of the main side frame I l and by suitable compounding drives gears 35, 36 and 31.

Inside of the side frame ll, referring to Figs. 3 and 4. a gear 38 secured to the main drive shaft 30 drives a train of gears 39 and 40.

Gear 32 is secured to a cam shaft 4| (Figs. 2 and 4) and gears 34 and are secured to a cam shaft 42, both cam shafts being driven counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 one revolution per machine cycle. The gear 33 is secured to a commutator drive shaft 43 and likewise the main drive shaft 30 is utilized as a commutator drive shaft.

Gear 39 (Fig. 3) is secured to a crank shaft 44 and gear 45a to a clutch drive shaft 45, both shafts 44 and 45 being driven clockwise (Fig, 3) one revolution per machine cycle. Gear 36 is an idler gear which drives the stacker drum assembly through gear 31 and is loosely supported on a stud 46. Gear 40 is loosely mounted on a rocker shaft [21. The gear 31 is secured to the stacker drum driving shaft 41, it being especially noted that this shaft is journalled in the side frames ill and II of the lower portion of the card feeding unit.

For feeding the cards which emerge from the card supply magazine top edge foremost and printed face down there is provided cooperating feeding rollers and 5! (see Fig. 3) mounted on the respective shafts 52 and 53 carried by the lower portion of the card feeding unit. Lower feeding roller 5i has secured thereto a gear 54 meshing with an idler gear 55 which is driven by the gear 40.

Card feed from supply magazine A conventional card picker is provided to feed cards singly from the supply magazine and includes a card picker 58 (Fig. 3) having a swivel mounting on a slidably mounted rack 59, all of which parts are carried by the lower portion of the card feeding unit. Said rack 59 is operated by a segment arm 60 secured to a rocker shaft 6| to which latter there is secured a follower arm 62 operated by a cam 63.

To effect selectivecard feed operations there is provided the usual one-revolution clutch'which includes a card feed control magnet 64. As in the well known construction the armature 65 thereof rocks a clutch release arm 66 which enables a pawl 67 pivoted on the cam 63 to engage a notch 68 formed in a disk secured to the one revolution drive shaft 45. When such clutch engagement is effected shaft 45 will drive the cam 63 a complete revolution at -which time the clutch release pawl cycle to feed the card to the first sensing station, known herein as a presensing station." As the card emerges from the feeling rollers 58, II, it is guided by spaced plates 68 (Fig. 3) which are carried by the lower portion of the card feeding unit and are located at the so-called presensing station P (Fig. 4).

Stacker drum After the card has been twice analyzed and it emerges from the second analyzing station it is engaged and received by a stacker drum 19 (Fig. 3) of a conventional construction and since its construction and operation is well known it will only be generally stated that such stacker drum receives a card, turns it over and deposits it in the card storage magazine 23 and in the same order as the cards are originally stacked in the supply magazine 25.

Card gripper feeding devices It is preferable to positively grip the cards to feed them from station to station without resorting to the expedient of card feeding rollers, because when such cards are released by the grippers they are free to be repositioned by the aligning devices, if disaligned. As will appear later, the presence of a card in the presensing station enables the release of the grippers to seize each card and reciprocation of the gripper frames to feed the card from the station in which it is located to the successive station. These stations are indicated in Fig. 4 as the Presensing station, the second or Control station which.

is used for control purposes in the customary card controlled accounting machine and the third station designated as Adding-printing control station having the functions of this legend.

In general there is provided at the right side of the card feeding unit at the lower portion thereof a reciprocable gripper frame HR (Fig. 4) carrying card grippers l2, l3 and I4. At the other side of the machine the companionate reciprocable gripper frame HL carries grippers I5, 16 and 11. Obviously, from Fig. 4 grippers l2 and 15 feed the card from the Presensing station to the Control station and simultaneously grippers l3 and f6 move a card from the latter designated station to the Adding-printing con-- trol station and grippers l4 and I1 feed a card from the Adding-printing control station to the stacker drum assembly 18. When three cards are at their respective stations the concomitant movement of gripper frames HR and HL will feed three cards during thesamemachine cycle.

In view of the similarity in construction of f both reciprocating gripper frames HR. and HL the detailed description of the gripper frame assembly will be confined to construction and operation of gripper frame HR. only. The grip per assembly is carried by an inverted U-shaped frame comprising a cross plate 88 (Figs. 6 and 7) and integral dependently hung side plates 8| and .82, plate 8| being outside of the side frame ll and side plate 82 at the inside of the side frame I i. The side plate 8! carries two stud shafts 83 (see Fig. 5) which provide the bearings for respective ball bearing mounted wheels 84 and 85, which wheels roll over a lower track 86 and underneath an upper guide track 81 during the reciprocation of the gripper frame. The upper edge of the side frame H has a rectangular longitudinal open notch 88 (Fig 1) and on the bottom of this notch the track 86 is fastened, and extending over this notch the track 8'! is attached. Rotatabie on the stud shafts and at each side of the wheels 00 or 00 are washers 00 (Fig. 7) enlarged with respect to the diameter of the wheels and they are so confined on the guide shafts 00 as to bear against the sides of the tracks 06 and 01 to preserve the sidewise alignment of the gripper frames during their reciprocation.

Reference numerals 12, 10 and 14 refer to the stationary plates of the grippers since they are affixed by rivets 9| to the top of the cross plate 00 and as shown in Fig. 4 extend laterally inwardly over the side marginal edges of the cards. The companion movable gripper plate 00 extends inwardly similar to the stationary gripper plate and is slidably mounted so that when free to move upwardly it will positively grip the marginal edge of the card which is between it and the companion fixed gripper plate. Movable gripper plate 93 is guided in its vertical movement by a pin 04 secured thereto, cooperating with a hole in the related fixed gripper plate. At the lower part said gripper plate has a square notch cooperating with the rounded end of a. toggle lever 01 which is pivoted on a guide stud or pin 96 carried by the side plate 02. In this manner the movable gripper plate is guided in its vertical movement.

To bring the movable gripper plate 00 into gripping relationship with the related fixed gripper plate, any suitable means may be provided but is preferably performed by a toggle lever system which acts quickl to enable the grippers to seize the card edge. This system comprises the lower toggle lever 91 pivoted on said stud 08 and an upper toggle lever 90 pivoted on a pin 99 carried by the movable gripper plate 90. The connecting pin 99 at the midpoint of the toggle lever connects said toggle levers and passes through a notch in the side plate 02 and is received by a hole IIO (Fig. 6) in a toggle control link I00. The toggle link I00 is mounted inside of the side plate 82 and is guided for reciprocating movement by studs IOI (Fig. 5) carried by the side plate 82 cooperating with guide slots I02 formed in the toggle control link I00 The toggle control link is normally latched by a latch lever I00 pivoted on a stud I04 carried by side plate 02, said latch being urged by a spring I05 extended from said latch lever to a stud II2 carried by toggle control link I00 to engage a notch I00 in the toggle control link I00. Thus, during the time that the three grippers are to be opened so as to be free of the marginal edges of the card the toggle control link I00 is normally latched by the latch lever I00. At the instant when the cards are to be engaged by the respective grippers, by means to be presently described, latch lever I00 will be rocked to disengage it from the shouldered notch I08, and in so doing tensions spring I05. This will release the toggle control link I00 and said link will be instantly moved towards the right as viewed in Fig. 5, partly by the tension of spring I05 so that by shifting each pin 99 to the right the respective toggle lever system will be straightened, levating the lower movable gripper plate 90 and closing the gripper jaws upon the marginal edge of the card. The movement of the toggle control link I00 to the right is effected by the action of spring I05, as just stated, and three springs I01, I00 and I00, each of which is connected to the midpoint connecting pin 99 and to a respective stud III carried by the side plate 02. It is preferable to enable each movable gripper plate to move independently of the toggle control link I00,

especially at the time that the toggle lever system is straight so that under the action of the respective spring I01, I00 and I0! the movable plate will be moved upwardly freely. This is effected by enabling toggle control link I00 to move slightly farther than connecting pin 99 of any of the individual toggle links so that the toggle lever system is under control of its respective spring I01, I00, I09. This preferred action can be effected by having each of the pins 00 operate in a hole IIO (Fig. 6) in the toggle control link I00 which is slightly larger than the diameter of the connecting pin 09.

The closure and reopening of the three grippers carried by the reciprocating gripper frame HR is effected under control of a swinging plate II5 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7). The swinging plate II! is carried at one end by a bell crank lever Ill pivoted on a fixed rod Ill carried by the side frame II and also to a stud III! carried by said plate IIS. A similar bell crank H1 is pivoted on a fixed rod IIS carried by the said frame II and also to a pivot stud II 0a carried by the plate H5. The lower arm of each of the bell cranks Iii and H1 projects into a, respective slot I20 in a gripper operating link I2I. The gripper operating link I2I is slidably mounted on the side frame II by having its notches I22 cooperate with guide studs I23 carried by said side frame. One end of the gripper operating link carries a stud I24 fitting in a bifurcation I25 of an arm I20 secured to a rock shaft I21, which latter as shown in Fig. 4 is journalled in the side frames I0 and II. To the rock shaft I21 there is secured a follower arm I28 cooperating with a cam I00 and a supplemental follower arm IOI cooperating with a cam I32. A cam I00 is selectively connected by a clutch to the drive shaft 05 as will be presently described whereas cam I02 is permanently fixed to drive shaft 05, as shown in Fig. 4.

Assuming, as previously stated, that the grippers are to be closed and the gripper frame is to be moved to the left in a card carrying stroke from the Fig. 5 position, at this time the high portion of cam I00 will rock arm I29 and shaft I21 counterclockwise and through the pin and notch connection I2l-I25 the gripper operating link I2I is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 5; rocking both bell cranks H6 and H1 clockwise to elevate plate II5, thus causing the operating portion I00 thereof to engage the lower lever I00 of latch I00, thus rocking the latch and releasing the toggle control link I00 and in the manner previously described enable the three grippers to concurrently close upon the card. After said grippers have been released to card gripping position the recipocating gripper frame is then moved to the left in a card feeding stroke from the Fig. 5 position by means to be presently described.

After the grippers have carried the cards to the successive analyzing station the grippers, of course, should be reopened prior to their return movement, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 5, free of said cards and this function is effected by again elevating swinging plate II5 when the reciprocating frame is in such position that another operating portion I00 of swinging plate I I5 is coordinated with the lower arm of a bell crank I" (see Fig. 5). The second elevation of plate III when the above correlation is obtained is performed by the cam I02 which, at the desired time in the operating cycle, rocks the respective follower arm IOI and shaft I21 so as to again shift the gripper operating link III to the left (Fig. This, as previously described, will elevate plate II5 so that another operating portion I rocks bell crank lever I which is pivoted on a stud I35 carried by the side frame II. The upper arm of the bell crank has an open notch engagin a pin I31 carried by the toggle control link I00. Rocking of the bell crank lever I35 in a counterclockwise direction will shift link I00 to the left so as to be relatched by latch lever I03 and at the same time rocking all of the toggle levers from their straight line position to the position shown in Fig. 5 to reopen the grippers.

Reference has been made to the reciprocation of the gripper carrying frame "L and such reciprocation is effected by means of a crank disk I (Fig; 2) rotatable counterclockwise by the constantly rotating shaft 44 to which said crank disk is secured. Crank disk I40 carries a pin I which supports a rectangular driving shoe I42 which is guided in a crank arm I43 so as to ride in a slot I44 therein. Also slidable in slot I44 is a similar shoe I supported by a pin I45 carried by the gripper frame 1IL. Arm I43 is fixed to a rock shaft I41.

Fig. 2 shows the parts just described in the position they occupy at the start of a card transporting operation, that is, at 210 of the timing diagram (Fig. 15). Just prior to this, assuming that a card has been received in the presensing station, a clutch connection will be made as previously described to rotate cam I 30 (Fig. 8) to cause the rocking of the latch lever I 03 (Fig. 5) to close the grippers. With all the grippers closed, rotation of crank disk I40 through 120 will rock arm I43 sixty degrees, moving gripper frame TIL from the left to the right with a, harmonic motion to eil'ect a quick feeding stroke and thereafter. a slow return of the gripper frame while said grippers are opened. At the termination of the quick feeding stroke, at about 323, arm I35 (Fig. 5) is rocked to cause the opening of the grippers, the slow return of the gripper frame then moving the opened grippers from the right as viewed in Fig. 2 to the left with a slow return.

While the detailed construction of the means for effecting the reciprocation of the gripper frame 1IL has been described, it is to be understood that referring to Fig. 1' a similar means is provided to reciprocate the other gripper frame 1IR concomitantly and comprises a crank disk I which operates in a similar manner a crank arm I5I which has a slidable shoe connection I52 to the reciprocating gripper frame 1IR.

Obviously, if three cards have been previously fed to the three different stations, movement of the gripper frames 1IL and HR to the left as viewed in .Fig. 4 will enable the closed grippers carried thereby to transport the card to the next station or from the Adding-printing control station to the stacker drum assembly. It is explained that when a card has been fed to the Presensing (Fig. 3) Station P, it is completely free of the feeding rollers 50 and 5| so that seizure by the grippers 12 and 15 will convey the card to the Control station. Furthermore, as shown in the timing diagram, during the time that the grippers are returned while open, the feeding rollers 50 and SI are now feeding a card to the Presensing station since it is now empty (see Fig. l5-timing of feed rolls 50-5 I During the operation of the machine the gripper frames constantly reciprocate once for each machine cycle, since drive shaft 44 is constantl rotating. Since cam I32 (Fig. 4) is also secured to the constantly rotating shaft 45, bell crank I35 (Fig. 5) is rocked once for each machine cycle whether or not the grippers have previously been closed. The closure of the grippers, however, is an independent selective operation. and is dependent, as will be subsequently explained upon the presence of a card to the Presensing station P. By an electrical impulse circuit to be subsequently described, a clutch control magnet I53 is energized (see Fig. 4). This magnet is similar to clutch control magnet 54 and causes the clutch engagement of a similar type of clutch so as to effect a driving engagement between cam I50 and the drive shaft 45. This clutch connection will then enable elevation of swinging arm H5 to cause the closure of the grippers in the manner previously described.

Card analyzing mechanism The card feeding mechanism forming part of the present invention is especially useful in card controlled machines wherein cards are analyzed at rest. While the specific form of the card analyzing mechanism now to be described forms no part of the presently claimed invention it will, nevertheless, be explained in some detail so as to more clearly understand the usefulness of the present card feeding mechanism. The analyzing mechanism has been devised for analysis of the type of perforated card shown in the patent to C. D. Lake, No. 1,772,492, granted August 12, 1930. In general, the card I54 (Fig. 4) has perforations (not shown) which are arranged in vertical columns and in horizontal rows, through which perforations electrical circuits are made to control functions of the machine. The general outline of such cards I54 is shown in Fig. 4.

A frame I50 (Fig. 3) carries for each analyzing station a plurality of metal current carrying members I5I, one for each card column and each carrying a plurality of angularly positioned metal analyzing brushes I52 which encounter the perforations and pass through to complete the electrical circuit. Plates I5I are insulated from each other and are attached to the frame I50 by insulating rods I53a. By an electrical connection to each plate I 5i current is supplied to the electrical analyzing brushes I52. For each card column a set of brushes I62 makes selective contact through the perforations in the column to extensions I53 of emitter contact points I54. A brush readout I55 driven by the shaft 43 or 30 makes successive contact with the contact points I 54 to transmit impulses at differential times. dependent upon the location of the perforation.

The above described arrangement of analyzing brushes and readout commutator is duplicated for each card column and the assembled arrangement is duplicated for the Adding-printing control station and the Control station, the commutator readouts being driven by the shafts 30 and 43'.

The analyzing brush carrying frame I50 is carried by the upper portion of the card feeding unit and is mounted between the side plates I4 and I5 in the following manner: At the ends of the frame I50 (Figs. 2, 3) studs I55 and I51 carried thereby are the pivotal connections of links I58 and I59 which are also connected by studs I10 to a related bell crank I1I which is pivoted upon a rod I12 carried by the side frames I4 and I5. A link I13 (Fig. 2) is connected by studs I14 and I15 to the bell cranks I" at the same side of the frame I50. Link I13 is the 11 controlling member of a parallelogram linkage by means of which the analyzing frame I is dependently hung so that by movement of said link I13 the analyzing frame I60 may be elevated and lowered in a straight line vertical movement, insuring the passage of the analyzing brushes through the correlated perforations. While the specific description has been confined to the supporting structure for one side of the analyzing support frame, shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the same type of support is provided for the other side of said frame as is shown in Fig. 1, wherein controlling link I14 designates the controlling member for the parallelogram linkage for the other side of said frame. Shifting of the links I13, I14 in one direction or the other to elevate or depress the analyzing frame is effected by follower arms I15 and I16 (Figs. 1 and 2) which are operated by respective complementary cams I11 and I secured to the drive shaft 4 I. The connection between the follower arm I10, I10 and the respective controlling member link I13 or I14 consists of an open notch I19 on the follower arm receiving a stud I80 carried by the related link I18 or I14. This open notch and stud connection makes it unnecessary to remove pins or studs to effect a disconnection in the operating train when elevating the upper section of the card feeding unit (see Fig. 1a).

In Fig. 3 the analyzing frame is shown in depressed position with the readout commutators in the rotated position they occupy shortly after the emitter impulses are initiated.

During the time that the emitter impulses are being transmitted the card gripper frames with opened grippers are returned with a slow return stroke (see Fig. thus enabling the cards to be held in analyzing position. After the analysis of all index point positions by the sensing or readout commutators which occurs at about 183 and prior to the movement of the gripper frames to feed the cards to the next station the complementary cams I11 and I10 are effective to rock the controlling link I14 to the left (Fig. 1) and the link I13 to the right (Fig. 2), rocking the bell cranks "I to elevate links I88 and IE! to raise the analyzing frame I60, positioning all the analyzing brushes out of contact with the cards in the analyzing stations.

Near the end of the machine cycle, or at about 330 (see Fig. 15), cams I11 and I10 are then effective to reverse the movements of links I10 and I14 which results in the depression of the analyzing frame and maintenance of the frame in lowered position during the time of emission of the impulses by the readout commutators.

While the movement of the frame downwardly exerts pressure on the flexible brushes I62 to cause them to project through the perforations and make firm electrical contact, it is desirable to effect a slight lateral movement of the frame I60 so as to wipe the brushes over the card and if in contact with a commutator contact point I64 to wine the brush thereover to make an efficient electrical contact. This is preferably effected as sh own in Fig. 3 by displacement of the frame I60 slightly to the right when the brushes are in contact with the card to be analyzed. To effectuate this there is secured to drive shaft 42 a cam I82 which operates a bell crank follower arm I83 loosely pivoted on the shaft 43. The upper arm of said bell crank has an open notch I04 which receives a stud I05 carried by the frame I60 and which projects through a notch I08 in the side frame I5. Notch I" is a clearance 12 notch. The open notch I04 in the follower arm facilitates the connection and disconnection of the operating train now being described whenever the upper section of the unit is raised or lowered.

Assuming that the analyzing frame I00 is in lowered position, cam I 82 will be effective at about 251 of the machine cycle (see Fig. 15) to shift frame I60 slightly to the left (Fig. 3), thus restoring frame I60 from its previously displaced position to the right. Near the end of the machine cycle or at about 330 the sensing frame is in lowered position and at about the time the analyzing brushes come in contact with the card cam I02 will rock the follower arm III to displace the frame I60 to the right, thus wiping the analyzing brushes, either over the surface of the cardor the contact points I64 where perforations are encountered.

Card stops and the aligners for horizontal edges of cards The card stops and aligners now to be described are employed to align the card along the horizontal edges to accurately correlate the horizontal rows of index points of the card with the related rows of analyzing brushes. The horizontal edges of the cards define the longer edges of the cards, because as a card is ordinarily held up for view by an operator the longer edges are horizontal and the shorter (left and right marginal edges) are the vertical edges. All of the horizontal edge aligners and card stops are carried by the lower portion of the card feed unit and are visible, as shown in Fig. 4 when the upper section has been elevated or removed.

In general, at the presensing station P the card is aligned between the bight of the feed rollers 50 and SI and two aligners I90, I9I (see Fig. 9). The card at the control station is aligned between card stops I92, I53 (Figs. 4 and 9) and aligncrs I94 and I95 and the card at the Adding-printing control station is aligned between card stops I 96 and I91 and aligners I and I99. The specific construction of such card aligners and card stops will be given in connection with one pair in view of the duplicate construction.

Referring to Fig. 3 extending transversely across the machine are supporting bars 20 I, each of which is employed to carry the aligner and card stop assembly as well as the readout commutators previously described. Fixed to each bar 20I is a bar 200 (Fig. 10) supporting a pair of blocks 200a, each provided with horizontally extending ears 201 and upstanding vertical ears 200, the ears 202 forming the bearing for transverse rock shaft 204, whereas the upstanding ears 203 carry a support rod 205. Fixed to the rod 204 for each aligner is a pair of upstanding arms 200 carrying a bail rod 208. As best shown in Fig. 12 the rod 200 has an extension 209 received by a hole in an aligner operating link 2I0. Pivoted on the rod 200 is a bail 2 so constructed that the cfoss plate thereof has an extension III of which portion 2I3 is of a cam formation and the terminal end 2I4 functions as a card aligner. One end of a torsion spring 201 wound around the rod 200 is hooked around one arm 200 and its free end bears beneath the bail extension II! to cause the cam portion M3 to bear against the fixed rod 205. As the card gripper frame approaches the termination of its card feeding stroke the leading horizontal edge of the card will approach the card aligncr portion 2 I4, which 13 at this time is in the depressed position as shown in Fig. out Of the plane of the card. Thereafter, link 2l0 is moved slightly to the right, thus rocking the supporting arms 266 slightly clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 11. This motion causes the pin 268 on which the card aligner 2" is pivoted to move slightly to the right, shifting the aligner portion 214 from the position shown in Fig. 10 to the position shown in Fig. 11 and the cooperation of the fixed stud 205 with the cam edge 2l3 will cause the card aligner portion 2 to move upwardly above the plane of the card and slightly to the right; and in the extreme rocked position of the card aligner portion 2| 4 will engage the horizontal leading edge of the card so as to present a square aligning surface to the edge to correct any deviation from the proper horizontal position in the sensing station. It is preferable to overfeed the card by the grippers and since, at this time, the card is free of the grippers the aligners shift the floating card backwardly to correct any disalignment and intentional overfeed.

Associated with the card aligner just described is a card stop which cooperates with the trailing horizontal edge of the card. Such card stop comprises a bail plate 2l5 and side plates H6 and 2H pivoted on the rod 205. Wound around the rod 205 is a torsion spring 2 which functions to rock said stop bail 2l5 upwardly so that the lower edge of a clearance slot H9 in each of t e ide plates 216 and M1 bears against the rod 208, the torsion spring 2l8 obviously holding the card stop bail 215 in upward position.

.As the card is being fed by the grippers the leading edge will ride up inclined edges 22!! of the side plates 216 and 2" and over the stop bail 2l5, slightly rocking the latter downward y against the action of torsion spring 216 until the trailing edge of the card cooperates with the card stop bail 2l5 which presents a square aligning surface thereto. It will be noted that a pair of card stop bails 2l5 align the same trailing edge of a card but function independently of each other. whereas shaft 204 connects the two pairs of arms 266 for a pair of card aligners to cause them to function together with respect to the leading horizontal edge of the card.

Reference has been made to the motion of the aligner operating link 2H! to project the card aligners 214 to a functional position and t e means utilized to carry out this operation will now be described.

Movement of link 2H1 to concurrently operate the three pairs of aligners is effected by a cam 223 (see Figs. 4 and 9) which has a sleeve connection 224 to the cam I30 which, it will be recalled, is rotated each time that the clutch control magnet I53 is energized to clutch driving shaft 45 to said cam. Cam 223 operates on a roller of a follower arm 225, which arm is loose y pivoted on rock shaft I21, said follower arm having a pin and slot connection 226 to the link 2H1.

During the time that the follower roller cooperates with the highest cam portion 223c of cam 223 (see Fig. link 2Ill is at the extreme left hand position and the aligners 214 are down as shown in Fig. 10 to enable the feeding of the card by the closed grippers and avoid interference with the cards.

In Fig. 9 the follower roller is shown in the tion 223d, enabling a spring 221 to rock the I01- 14 lower arm 225 to shift link 2|0 slightly to the right to move the aligners 2 in the position shown in Fig. 11, without, however. abutting at this time the leading edges of 'the card. As the follower roller cooperates with the inclined portion 223e, the aligners 2 will move a little further to the right, as viewed in Figs. 9 and 11, so as to now abut the horizontal leading edge of the cards to effectively align them. During the time that the follower roller cooperates with the circular lowest cam portion 223a, link 2| II will be in its extreme right hand position, to maintain the aligners and stops in their uppermost positions and from Fig. 15 it will be observed that this occurs during the time that the cards are being analyzed.

During the time in the machine cycle that the follower roller cooperates with cam portion 2231) link 2Ill is moved to the extreme left hand position to shift the aligners in lowered position. At this time the card feeding operation is initiated by the closed grippers.

Vertical card edge aligners These are disposed at theControl station and the Adding-printing control station and are preferably disposed only at these stations since any possible irregularity or deviation of the card from its proper line or direction of feed as it is fed to the Presensing station P is not of any consequence. If it occurs it is corrected at each of the analyzing stations to accurately correlate the vertical columns of index point positions with the correlated columns of analyzing brushes.

The preferred construction of this aligning arrangement is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 13 and 14. With the exception of cam operated parts shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the vertical aligner arrangement is carried by the upper section of the card feeding unit. Secured to the constantly rotating shaft 42 is a cam 235 (Figs. 1 and 4) cooperating with a follower roller 236 at the lower end of.a floating follower link 231. To guide the latter in its. reciprocating movements there is aflixed to the side plate l0 (Fig. l) a bracket plate 233 which carries four channeled guide rollers 239 in which follower link 231 is disposed for a sliding movement.

Secured to a transverse rock shaft 240 Journalled in the frames I4 and I5 of the upper section of the card feed unit is an arm 2 (Fig. 1) and an arm 242 (Fig. 2), arm 2 having an extension 243 engageable with the upper end of the follower link 231. Roller 236 cooperates with a scalloped portion 235a of cam 235 after 300 of the machine cycle to thereby enable the vertical card edge aligners to be moved downwardly to align the left and right vertical edges of the card at each analyzing station if the card has been displaced from its proper line of feed. Movement of the vertical aligners to be subsequently described occurs after the cards have been fed to analyzing position and the grippers have been opened to release the card. The release from the grippers enables the aligners to function to align the vertical edges of the floating card. When scalloped cam portion 235a cooperates with follower roller 236 a spring 244 (Fig. 1) connected to arm 24! will rock shaft 240 counterclockwise and arms 2, 242 upwardly away from the ends of cooperating arms 245, 246. Arms 24l and 242 are shown in Fig. 14 in such upwardly rocked position which has enabled the respective springs 241 and 248 to rock both arms 245, 246 upwardly and rock a related shaft 245 and 255. Shaft 245 is therocker shaft for operating the aligners 252 at the left vertical edge of the card or column 66 thereof, whereas rocker shaft 255 rocks the aligners 252 disposed at the right vertical marginal edge of the card which is adjacent column No. 1. For aligning the left and right marginal edges of the same card there Ls provided vertical aligners 252, 253 (Fig. 14) which are at the same analyzing station.

Each aligner 252, 253 consists of a bail shaped plate dependently hung on a rod 254 carried by arms 255 and 256 secured to rock shaft 249 or 255. Rock shaft 249, 255 is journalled in a bracket plate 251 carried by a frame plate I4 or I5 of the upper card feed section. A bracket affixed to frame plate I5 carries a pin 260 cooperating with a cam slot 26I. A torsion spring 262 is wound around the support pin 254 and one end of said spring is hooked around arm 255 and the other end bears against the inward portion of the cross plate of the aligner 252, 252. This spring is so arranged as to urge each aligner 252, 252 against the edge of the card. Furthermore, the anchorage of this spring is such that aligner 252, 253 tends to pivot about pin 254 so that it is moved inwardly as cam slot 26I cooperates with guide pin 254.

To limit the extent that shafts 249 or 254 may function to actuate card aligners 252 and 253, the adjustable stop screws 253 and 264 are provided. Screws 263 and 254 are threaded into projections which extend down from the brackets 255. Each of the card aligners 252, 253 is slotted at its lower end as shown in Fig. 13 to provide space for the plain head of the screw 263 and to provide an adjustable stop as shown. The aligning position of the left hand screw 26! is adjusted as shown in Fig. 14 to bring the left margin or #80 column edge of the card in alignment with the analyzing brush of the commutating points of the readout commutator. The spring 252, which actuates the left hand aligner 252, is a relatively heavy spring which will always bring the left aligners against the inner edge of the aligner screw 263.

The right hand aligner screw 264 is adjusted to a position 5 beyond the true position of the right hand edge for a card which is cut to exact size. This aligner is provided with a lighter spring 262 which will not overcome the tension of spring 262 in the left hand aligner. Thus, whether the card be abnormally long or abnormally short, its left band edge will be positively aligned by aligner 252 and the position of aligner 253 will compensate for such difference in length providing the length of the card is within of the correct dimension. If short, the aligning device will correctly position cards which are abnormally long, even though the additional length exceeds It is customary in perforating machines used to prepare cards to align against the column 80 vertical edge of the card, and the aligners shown in Figs. 13 and 14 have been designed to utilize this same aligning edge.

It should be noted that the pair of aligners will function to align a card endwise toward either the left or the right as the lower ends of both aligners move downwardly and inwardly during the aligning operation. In the final position of the aligners, aligner 252 will always stop against the head of screw 263 whereas the aligner 252 will only stop against the head of its adjustable screw 2'4 when the card being aligned is more than 1}," short of the nominal dimension.

Operation of machine in connection with circuit diagram The initiation of card feed and the sequential card feeding operations will, it is believed, be best understood by describing the operation of the machine in connection with the circuit diagram (Fig. 16).

A prerequisite to initiation of card feed is that hopper contacts 216 (Figs. 3 and 16) be closed and referring to Fig. 3 this is effected by the depression of a button 21I by cards in the supply magazine 25. When all the cards have been fed out of the magazine the contacts will open and the machine will automatically stop.

When the main supply switch S is closed a current supply is provided to lines 212 and 212. With hopper contacts 210 closed, an obvious circuit to RI and R2 relays is closed to energize them and a stick circuit for both relays is provided by Rio relay contacts and cam contacts CR". As is customary in machines of this type, certain contacts are closed by cams attached to a constantly running shaft, such cam contacts herein designated by the prefix CR, and may be driven by the main drive shaft 21 (Fig. 12a). The timing is shown in Fig. 15.

Initiation of card feed is effected by depression of Start key which closes contacts 214 to close a circuit from the line 212, through stop key contacts 211, start key contacts 214, to the start R9 relay to line 213. It should be noted that in the circuit diagram all relays and magnets are connected to line 213 to complete the energizing circuit. R9 relay closes its stick con tacts R9a and a stick circuit is provided back to line 212 through cam contacts CR4 to hold R9 relay energized over and through part of the second machine cycle. Obviously, when CR4 contacts open during the second machine cycle and if the Start key is not retained depressed, R5 relay will deenergize and for this reason the Start key is maintained depressed or redepressed until a card issues from the magazine to complete an alternate holding circuit for the R9 relay, when stick cam contacts CR4 open, through Rlb contacts and R517 contacts in the manner to be subsequently described. However, with R9 relay energized RQb contacts close and a circuit will be completed when CR3 cam contacts close from line 212 through CR3 cam contacts, Rsb relay contacts now closed, to the pickup winding of the RIB relay. The latter closes the Rita stick contacts to complete a stick circuit for the holding winding of the RID relay back to line 212 through Rita relay contacts and cam contacts CR2. From Fig. 15 it will be seen that the CR2 cam contacts hold RIOH relay energized for the completion of the cycle and during the second machine cycle up to 210. Shortly after the closure of relay contacts Rlilb cam contacts CR1! close to complete a circuit from the line 212, through Rllb relay contacts, cam contacts CR" and pickup coil of RI l relay and the picker clutch feed control magnet 64, energizing both of them. RI Ia contacts close to provide a stick circuit for the holding winding of RI I relay and the circuit is held through Rlflb relay contacts up to 210 of the second machine cycle. Energization of picker clutch feed magnet 64 at about 250 when CRII cam contacts close will cause the engagement of the picker clutch at about 285 of the first machine cycle (see Fig. 15)

17 and the lowermost card is then advanced from the supply magazine 25 to the constantly rotating feeding rollers 511 and (see Fig. 3) and the card is fed by the latter to the Presensing station P; and when this condition is obtained a card lever 215 is rocked to close the Presensing station card lever contacts 216 at 144 of the second machine cycle or the first card feed cycle and are kept closed due to the continued presence of a card in the Presensing station.

At 315 of the first machine cycle cam contacts CR19 close to energize a circuit to the CF cam clutch magnet 2811 which extends from the line 212 to relay contacts R101) now closed, relay contacts R4d now closed, cam contacts CR19, CF cam clutch magnet 2811 (see also Fig. 12a) to line 213. Energization of'this magnet at 315 of the cycle will cause at 330 of the cycle the engagement of a conventional one-revolution clutch to cause the rotation of a shaft 231 which rotates the cams which close the CF contacts. To this end, the gear 28 (Fig. 12a) meshes with a gear 282 to which is attached the clutch disk 233 of said clutch to drive the shaft 281 one revolution for each clutch engagement. This energizing circuit for clutch magnet 230 is for the first machine cycle only. In subsequent card feed cycles the R4d relay contacts are open as will be explained but upon the presence of cards at the Presensing station the R3 relay will be energized to close the R301 contacts, through which relay contacts the impulse circuit to clutch magnet 2811 is completed. After contacts 216 are closed at 144 of the second machine cycle or first card feed cycle, cam contacts CR34 close at 155 of the second machine cycle to transmit an impulse to the pickup winding of the R3 relay by an obvious circuit. R311 relay contacts then close to provide a stick circuit for the holding coil of the R3 relay by a'circuit which extends back through R3a relay contacts, and CF4 cam contacts to line 212. CF4 extends the energization of R3 relay over and through the next or second card feed cycle. When R311 relay contacts close during this second machine cycle and CR1 contacts close during this and succeeding cycles, a circuit is completed to energize clutch magnet 2811.

The start key will be held down or depressed the second time to reenergize R9 relay and the operation will be repeated to advance the card from the Presensing station to the first Control station and to feed the second or following card from the supply magazine into the feed rolls 59, 51 and thus to the Presensing station.

Energization of the R3 relay closes R30 contacts which, it will be recalled, are closed only when a card is at the Presensing station so as to complete at 165 a circuit during the second machine cycle or first card feed cycle from the line 212 through CR1 cam contacts, R30 relay contacts, R11 b relay contacts now closed, to the clutch magnet 153. This clutch magnet, it will be re called, causes the operation of the mechanism which closes the gripping devices to feed particularly the first card from the Presensing station to the Control station and other cards from station to station in the manner previously described.

Closure of cam contacts CF18 and 240 of the second machine cycle or first card feed cycle causes completion of a circuit from line 212 through cam contacts CF4 now closed, R3a relay contacts now closed, CF13 cam contacts to the pickup winding of the R4 relay. The latter will close the Rla relay contacts to complete a stick 18 circuit for the holding winding of the R4 relay extending back through the R40 relay contacts and CF3 cam contacts to line 212. R4 relay will thereupon open the R4d relay contacts so that the impulse emitted by CR19 cam contacts to the CF cam clutch magnet 2811 will be subsequently directed through the R3d relay contacts for card feed cycles after the first. During the third machine cycle or the second card feed cycle cam contacts CF19, which are timed to close slightly earlier than CF18, will close and complete a circuit from the line 212 through CF3 cam contacts, R4a relay contacts now closed, CF19 cam contacts to the pickup winding of the R5 relay. The latter closes the R5a stick contacts providing a stick circuit for the holding winding of the R5 relay extending back through R5a relay contacts and cam contacts CF2 to line 212. R5yrelay closes R5b contacts which in conjunction with R3b contacts now closed provide an alternate holding circuit for the R9 relay to keep R9 energized when stick cam contacts CR4 for the R9,

relay open. It will thus be noted that R4 relay is energized as the card is about to enter the Control station and that R5 relay will later close when the card is about to enter the Adding-printing control station. Relays R4 and R5 also control relay contacts which supply current to the readout commutators shown in Fig. 3 and previously described in detail. Such circuit connection is not shown in the present wiring diagram since it is not involved in the presently described invention; but R4 and R5 are referred to only to designate the function of the R4 and R5 relay contacts.

Under normal card feed conditions and so long as cards continue to feed through the Presensing station, impulse circuits to the R3 relay will be reestablished during each machine cycle. Relay contacts RM and R21; will remain closed as long as any cards remain in magazine, holding R4 and R5 after they have been energized. The card picker control clutch magnet 64, CF cam control clutch magnet 280 and gripper control clutch magnet 153 will also be reenergized each cycle under normal conditions so long as cards continue to feed through the machine.

However, failure to feed a card from the supply magazine to the Presensing station to close the contacts 216 will stop card feeding operations. Whenever the presensing card lever contacts 216 are opened, due to the failure of card feed from the magazine, the stick circuit to the hold coil of the R3 rela will be opened when test cam contacts CF4 open at about 162 of the card feed cycle in which there is a card feed failure. Deenergization of R3 relay enables the R30 contacts to open, and assuming that there are cards in the hopper which would cause the R 1 d contacts which are in multiple therewith to be opened, the impulse circuit to the gripper clutch control magnet 153 will be opened and it will not receive the impulse transmitted by the CR1 cam contact. The result of this is that the clutch controlled by the magnet 153 will not be engaged and the card grippers will not be closed and cards present at the Control station and the Adding-printing control station will remain in such position and will not be advanced. Also, deenergizationof the R3 relay will cause the R31) relay contacts to open, and assuming that the R1 b contacts are open due to the presence of cards in the hopper, the holding circuit of the R9 relay is deenergized upon opening of the CR4 contacts at about 227 of the cycle in which there is a card feed failure. R9 relay becoming deenergized opens its R9b contacts, preventing the energization of the auto start relay RIO when cam contacts CR3 close. RlOb relay contacts thereupon open with the result that the impulse circuit to the RI I relay and the picker clutch control magnet 54 is opened and furthermore opening of the RM rela contacts prevents the transmission of an impulse to the card feed cam clutch magnet 28!]. Since the clutch control magnets [53, 280, 64 for the three clutches will not be energized, all of the card feed operations will be terminated, thus signaling the operator that the card feeding operations have not been properly performed. Summarizing, during each cycle of operation test circuits function to determine whether a card has been properly fed by the picker blade and the feed rolls to the intermediate Presensing station.

It has been found in practice that most of card feed failures occur at the throat, particularly when cards have been damaged or worn to such an extent that they cannot be properly fed from the supply magazine. In such instance they may not feed through the feed magazine throat. When a card feed failure has been sensed, the feeding by the picker knife and the means for advancing the cards from station to station by the gripper devices, both of which are independently operated feeding operations, are inhibited. With the above condition which is enabled by the present invention, it is possible for the operator to examine the defective card which is easil performed by removing all cards from the hopper (and if necessary by elevating the upper portion of the card feed unit) and examining this card to determine whether it should be replaced or again placed in the machine for another feed thereof.

It is often possible to utilize the same card by ironing around the edge of the card with the fingernail to flatten out a burr which may be raised on the card by repeated feedings through the throat knife and block. The inhibition of the card feed from station to station and stopping of all the card feeds prevents functional operations to be effected under control of such cards, and preventing the splitting of card groups in the event that the defective card belongs to the same group as the already advanced cards. This insures that despite a card feed failure the reports will be properly recorded by the card controlled accounting machine.

When a defective card has been repaired or replaced this card is reinserted in the magazine, and other cards are placed on top of it in the usual manner. It is not ordinarily necessary for the operator to hinge open the upper section of the card feed unit except in the case of a card jam or misfeeding operation which occurs after the card has been advanced through the throat.

Under normal conditions, a new card will be placed in the magazine, and the machine will be started by depressing the start key. The first card will be advanced by the picker knife and feed rolls to the advance sensing tation as the circuits which energize the picker clutch magnet 64 and the card feed cam clutch magnet 280 will function in generally the same manner as described above for the condition encountered when cards are first inserted in the machine. It should be noted, however, that the gripper clutch magnet I53 cannot now function due to the opening of contact R30. Previously fed cards will remain in position at the Control and the Adding-printing stations until the replaced card has been advanced to the Presensing station to take its place in the sequence required for normal machine operations, which will then be resumed as the clutch magnets 64, 283, and I53 will now operate every cycle in the usual manner.

In earlier types of machines the failure to feed a card at the throat caused the machine to carry out functions which would normally occur if the last card had been advanced through the machine with the result that only a portion of the cards in the group were tabulated and the machine would print a total which would not relate to the sum mation of the items of all the cards in the same group.

When all cards have been fed from the magazine, the contact 210 will be open, and relays RI and R2 will be deenergized upon opening of CRIB late in the machine cycle, permitting contact Rld to close as the grippers must function to continue the feeding of the last cards to the stacker magazine. Contact Rid also closes to condition the machine for the operation of the clutch magnet 280 during the last two card sensing operations and also during initial cycles.

The contact Rib will close, and the machine will continue in operation, feeding the last card through the machine until the deenergization of R5 after the last card has been sensed at the Adding-printing station. This will result in the opening of contact Rib, deenergization of R9 and the subsequent deenergization of RIO, and the opening of Rlob. which will prevent re-engagement of the card feed cam clutch 280 or the picker clutch 64 after the last card has been sensed. While there will be additional and unnecessary operations of the picker knife and grippers, these are of no consequence under these conditions.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims:

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of means for separately feeding cards from a supply magazine to a sensing position in a presensing station and at rest in such position, a feeling device for sensing the presence of a card in said presensing station, other independently operated means for feeding a card at rest in sensing position from said presensing station to a card analyzing station, and means controllable by said device for suppressing the operation of said independently operated card feeding means upon the failure of a card to be fed by said first named card feeding means to sensing position in said presensing station while enabling the feeding of a following card from said supply magazine to said presensing station.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of card picker means for separately feeding cards from a supply magazine to a presensing station, a feeling device for sensing the presence of a card in said presensing station, other reciprocally operated means operable independently of the card picker feeding means for feeding a card from said presensing station to a card analyzing station in a feeding stroke concurrent with feeding another card from said supply magazine. and means controllable by 

